Healthcare

died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 62: Provide for phaseout of Medicaid expansion program

SB 62 would end Montana's Medicaid expansion program for able-bodied adults by prohibiting new enrollments after August 31, 2025, while requiring the Department of Public Health and Human Services to seek a federal waiver to maintain funding for current participants. The bill directly affects individuals enrolled in Montana's Medicaid expansion program who are able-bodied adults, preventing them from joining after the 2025 deadline. Key mechanisms include a strict enrollment cutoff date, a requirement for the department to apply for federal funding continuity, and authorization to implement program integrity measures like biannual eligibility reviews. The bill does not change coverage for individuals with specific health needs or those already enrolled continuously before September 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcarePhases out Medicaid expansion for able-bodied adults, restricting access to health coverage and ending new enrollments after 2025.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 504: Provide grants for permanent supportive housing facilities

SB 504 proposes creating a $75 million grant program to fund permanent supportive housing projects in Montana. The bill would provide grants to nonprofit organizations for constructing, rehabilitating, or acquiring housing that offers long-term affordable leases (for residents earning 60% or less of the area median income) and onsite support services like mental health care, job assistance, and addiction recovery. It allocates $50 million from the general fund and $25 million from a behavioral health fund, with grants disbursed based on project proposals and adherence to specific conditions, including outcome tracking. The program, administered by the Montana Department of Commerce, aims to directly support homeless or at-risk individuals through housing and integrated services, effective July 1, 2025. (Note: The bill died in process in May 2025 and did not become law.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $50M from general fund and $25M from behavioral health fund for housing grants, directly increasing state spending on public services. This funding initiative strengthens budgetary support for affordable housing programs.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds housing projects with mandatory onsite mental health services, directly expanding healthcare access for low-income residents through integrated support.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAllocates $75M for permanent supportive housing grants targeting 60% AMI residents with onsite services, directly advancing affordable housing access and supportive housing initiatives.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 483: Generally revise health care laws

SB 483 would revise Montana's health care laws by adding specific definitions to clarify insurance coverage processes, particularly around "step therapy" protocols. It directly affects health insurance issuers, providers, and patients by standardizing terms like "adverse determination" (denials of coverage), "clinical peer" reviews, and "step therapy" requirements. Key provisions define how insurers must review coverage requests, including requiring medical necessity justifications and establishing clearer pathways for appeals. The bill focuses on improving transparency in insurance decision-making without creating new benefits or funding. (Note: This bill died in process on May 23, 2025, and did not become law.)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStandardizes insurance definitions and mandates medical necessity justifications for coverage, protecting patients from arbitrary denials and improving access to care.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 417: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to obesity prevention

SB 417 would require most Montana health insurance plans to cover certain injectable medicines prescribed for glucose control or weight loss in adults diagnosed with prediabetes, gestational diabetes, or obesity. Coverage must be deemed medically necessary by a physician and requires participants to join a lifestyle management program to continue treatment. The bill applies to individual and group health insurance policies but excludes Medicare Advantage plans. It amends Montana insurance law to mandate this coverage as a standard benefit.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates insurance coverage for obesity/diabetes treatments, expanding access to prescribed medicines and requiring medically necessary care, aligning with healthcare access expansion indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 295: Restoring the right for injured worker to choose their own doctor.

SB 295 would restore Montana injured workers' right to choose their own treating physician for initial treatment and ongoing care under workers' compensation, without being forced to use a managed care organization (MCO) or preferred provider organization (PPO) without consent. The bill requires insurers to allow workers to select a physician from a designated list for initial treatment and to change physicians with the insurer's approval (with mediation available if approval is denied). It also mandates that insurers provide individual written notice (not workplace postings) before referring workers to an MCO or PPO. This directly affects injured workers seeking medical treatment for work-related injuries in Montana, giving them more control over their healthcare decisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestores injured workers' right to choose treating physician, improving healthcare access without insurer-imposed MCO/PPO restrictions.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRestores injured workers' right to choose physicians under workers' comp, protecting healthcare access and advancing labor rights without forced MCO/PPO use.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 563: Creating the Montana Bridge to Medical Residency Act

SB 563 would create a temporary "provisional resident license" for recent medical school graduates in Montana who have passed initial licensing exams but haven't yet secured a residency position. This license allows them to provide supervised patient care under a licensed physician's direct oversight through a formal collaborative agreement, with a maximum duration of two years total. The bill directly affects new physicians seeking their first clinical roles while awaiting residency placements. It amends Montana's medical licensing laws to establish specific qualifications, fees, and supervision requirements for this temporary license.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables provisional medical licensure for new grads awaiting residency, expanding access to healthcare services under supervision.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 199: Revise the Medicaid expansion program

SB 199 revises Montana's Medicaid expansion program (the Montana HELP Act) by introducing monthly "taxpayer integrity fees" for participants meeting specific asset thresholds. It requires fees based on excess real estate value ($5,000+ above homestead limits), vehicle equity ($20,000+ combined value), or agricultural land taxable value ($1,500+ annually), with a base fee of $100 plus $4 per $1,000 over limits. The bill also updates community engagement rules, mandating 80 monthly hours of work-related activities for 19-55-year-olds (with exemptions for medical conditions, caregivers, students, and others). These changes directly affect Medicaid expansion participants owning significant assets or required to meet work participation standards.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareAdds asset-based fees to Medicaid, restricting access for participants with property/vehicle equity, effectively limiting program eligibility and coverage.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 354: Prohibit purchase of soft drinks and candy with SNAP benefits

SB 354, the "Montana Healthy SNAP Act," would require Montana's Department of Public Health to request a federal waiver prohibiting the use of SNAP benefits (formerly food stamps) to buy soft drinks and candy. The bill directly affects SNAP recipients in Montana by restricting purchases of these items, which the legislature states are the most commonly bought non-nutritious items with SNAP funds. Key provisions include mandating a federal waiver request with a public health justification, an implementation plan for retailers, and annual reporting on spending patterns and health impacts. The bill defines "candy" as non-refrigerated sweet items and "soft drinks" as nonalcoholic sweetened beverages (excluding milk-based drinks or juices with >50% fruit/veg content).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestricts SNAP use for unhealthy items to improve public health outcomes, aligning with public health program goals through nutrition policy.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 112: Revise laws related to state purchase of opioid antagonists

SB 112 would prohibit Montana state funds (including federal funds) from purchasing opioid reversal drugs after June 30, 2025, from companies involved in opioid settlement agreements. It allows existing contracts for these drugs to continue until fulfillment but bans renewal after the deadline, and requires continued supply under settlement agreements signed before September 1, 2024. The bill directly affects state agencies purchasing opioid reversal medications and pharmaceutical companies that settled opioid-related lawsuits. The bill died in committee in May 2025 and did not become law.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill prohibits state funds from purchasing opioid reversal drugs after 2025 from settlement-participating companies, restricting access to life-saving overdose treatment and weakening public health response to opioid crisis.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 364: Generally revise laws related to immunizations

HB 364 proposes to update laws concerning student immunizations and exemptions in K-12 schools. It would require school governing authorities to submit written reports on student immunization and exemption data to state and local health departments. These reports must only contain deidentified or aggregate information, ensuring student privacy. The Department of Public Health and Human Services would determine the specific form and schedule for these reports.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires school immunization data reporting for public health oversight, strengthening disease prevention efforts under healthcare policy.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires deidentified health data reporting to protect student privacy, aligning with tech policy data protection standards.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

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